St Agnes Mining District

Centred on the small town of St Agnes, this elongated and predominantly coastal mining district has been formed by the contact between the granite underlying St. Agnes Beacon - an outlier of the Carn Brea boss - and the complex metamorphosed country rock which surrounds and overlies it. To the west and close to the granite contact, it includes a group of ancient tin mines which stretch from the dramatic openwork of Wheal Luna overlooking Trevaunance Cove through Seal Hole and Polberro towards St. Agnes Head. To the south-west lies Wheal Coates, one of the best known Cornish mine sites, and the important copper mines of Wheal Charlotte and the Porthtowan mines - most notably Tywarnhayle/United Hills and the Towan group. Wheal Kitty and Penhalls dominate the west of Trevaunance Cove, whilst Blue Hills occupies the seaward end of the nearby Trevellas Coombe, where tin stamps and small-scale dressing floors have now been restored to working order.